Signature key



' Feb; 12, 1929. 1,701,785

G. D; LINO SIGNATURE KEY Filed Feb. 23, 1927 5'7 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED s'rArEs GEORGE I). LING, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SIGNATURE KEY.

Application filed February 23, 1927. Serial No. 1.70.097.

This invention relates to keys for locking devices, and has for its object to provide a novel construction and arrangement of the controlling edge, or edges.

The construction and arrangement of the controlling edge, or edges of present time keys to the very best of my knowledge have either bitted edges to adjust plungers, or straight line out edges to pass certainpins in the locks.

The great majority of people unskilled in the art of keymaking can obtain a keyblank, and with an ordinary the duplicate the present time keys, which state presents a constant danger of dishonesty.

A better understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the accompanying description and drawings which .form part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 shows a side eleva-tion of a key with the controlling edge formed by the signature of the key owner. i

' Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of a key with the controlling edge formed by a password.

Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of a key with the controlling edges formed on two sides oi the key. Fig. 4. is an end View of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of 'akey constructed according to a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 shows atop view thereof.

The key has the usual keybow 10, the usual aperture 11, and the usual blade 12which fits into the locking device.

The controlling edge, or edges 13 are formed by the upper outline of a written signature, a written password, etc. Thefcontrolling pins or plungers in the locking device may act against the points 14, 15, 16, etc., of the controlling edges, or may act against a part, or the entire controlling edge.

A fraudulent person gainingpossession of the key from the owner for a short timewill experience great dithculty in trying to duplicate the same. Since the controlling edge is continuously changing in direction line, it gives no hints as to where the pins or plungers are located in the locking device, and therefore it would be necessary to duplicate the entire outlines of the signatures to make a key that would operate'the locking device. This would be an impossible task to the unskilled 'l113.j )llby..

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,the key blade 12 is formed along the top edge with a dove-tailed groove 20 longitudinal with the blade, and a pair of tapped apertures 21 transverse to the blade, and communicating with the dove-tailed groove. Engaged in the dovetailed groove 20 is a dove-tail 22 formed on the bottom, edge oi a keyedge 23. The top edge oi the keyedge 23 has a controlling edge formed by certain projections and depressions formed by a written signature 24k, or

the like, either countersunk in the kc ed 'e as indicated by 25, or raised as indicated by 26. Engaged in the tapped apertures 21 are the set screws 27 which act to hold the keyedge 23 in place.

l Vhile I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right andprivilege of changing the form of the details of construction without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims. l f j Having thus described my invention, what I claim as'new and desire to secure by United StatesLetters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a key blade formed along the top edge with a dovetailed groove longitudinal to the blade, and

with a pair of apertures transverse to the blade, the apertures communicating with the clove-tailed groove, a keyedge' formed on the bottom edge with a dove-tail engageable' with the dove-tailed groove, certain projections and depressions on the t-op'edge ofv the key-j edge, and set screws engaged in the said upertures. 2,111 a. device of the class described, a key blade formed along the? top edge with a groove, a keyedge slidably arranged in the groove, and means for releasably holding the said keyedge in place. I In testimony whereof I have affixed m signature.

GEORGE n. Lnvo- 

